Rotary engine



April 3, 1928. 1,664,987

` R. MEYER ROTARY ENG INE Filed Jan. 29. 1925 SMIL* 'Y in o/oooooo-oao y (9a@ )oooooooood l5/bmol@ L ZZarzzeg",A

Patented Apr. 3, 1928'.

UNITED STATES.

ROBERT MEYER, OF GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Application led January 29, 1923, Serial N o. 615,551, and in Germany January 30, 1922.

For rotary engines with crescent-shaped working chambers and "blades arranged in radial vslots of the piston different means. have been suggested to neutralize the centrifugal force of these blades to prevent the destruction ofthe true circular' bore of the cylinder by unequal wear. To attain this end either' the whole cylinder face, or annular parts thereof, are rotatably mounted. But this arrangement renders a good lubrication very diflicult if not entirely impossible because these large sliding surfaces do not permit the lubricant to reach all points thereof and lubricate them uniformly.

In accordance with my present invention I support such rotatable `parts of the cylinder face, hereinafter for the sake of brevity called stay-rings, in annular terminal cylinder recesses on anti-friction bearings, such as ball bearings or roller bearings. I arrange thesestay-rings rotatably in said annular terminal cylinder recesses with just sufficient lateral play to permit small quantities of the motive fluid to gain admittance to them from the crescent-shaped working chamber, but against the atmosphere I close these recesses hermetically by means of the cylinder casing. In consequence of this arrangement the mean pressure of the motive fluid exerted in the Working chamber of the cylinder' obtains in these Vterminal cylinder recesses too. Since the motive fluid carries the lubricant in a most uniformly distributed and, atomized condition an uninterrupted and goed lubrication of the antifrictiou bearingsand the stay-rings is assured.

These anti-friction bearings may be of any suitable construction. To keep the rotatable stay-rings concentric with the axis of the cylinder it is necessary to support them at least at threeepoints preferably arranged cquidistant one from another. When this minimum of bearing points has been fixed upon, the contact between the anti-friction bearings and said stay-rings is very advantageously formed by means of contact rings whichwith their external face bear against said rotatable stay-rings and with their internal face cooperate with the balls or rollers of suitable ball bearings or roller bearingsY These contact rings may, however, be omitted, to which end the rotatable stayrin0s themselves are utilized as the inner bearing rings of ball bearings, or roller bearings, of a suliiciently large diameter to encircle said stay-rings, whereas therouter bearing rings of such large anti-friction bearings are immovably secured in saidy cylinder casing con# centrically with the axis of the cylinder. In

balls thereof may be arranged in one or .more rows as circumstances may suggest.V Likewise the ball-cages of such anti-'friction bearings may be of any shape found suitable in practice.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown by way of example several rotary engines wherein my invention is embodied in various forms. In said drawing:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 1 1 of Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure l to illustra-te the action of themotive fluid on the rotary piston, n

Figure 3 isa transverse sectional view taken on line 3 8 of Figure, l wherein the rotatable stay-rings are sustained at*V three points by externally arranged anti-friction bearings, v

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 4.-4: of Figure 5, y

Figure 5 is a. transversev sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4 wherein the rotatable stay-rings embody the inner bearing rings of anti-friction bearings larger in diameter than said stay-rings, y

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 7,

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view similar to Figure 5 and taken on line 7 7 of Figure 6 wherein the rotatable stay-rings likewise embody the inner bearing rings of anti-i`riction bearings larger in diameter than said stayerings,

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 8-8 ofFigures 4L and G to indicate the passage of the motive fluid through the rotary engines shown `in Figures et to 7 inclusive, and i Figurey 9 is a plan-view of a part of a massive cellular cage'employed in Figures (3 and 7. r

` The driving shaft l ofmy improved rotary engine is arranged eccentrically to the axis of the cylinder 2 and is journaled in the cylinder covers 3. On said driving shaft 1 the rotary piston 4i is mounted.concentrically, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3, by which arrangment the crescent-shaped working chamber 5 is produced. The piston et to ball bearings utilized for this purpose the Award in the radial piston slots.

is provided with radially arranged longitudinal slots 6 for the reception ofthe Working blades 7 adapted'to slide therein radially in and out. At the usual high number of revolutions of the `piston these blades 1de` velop a considerable centrifugal force which increases in the ratio said blades move out i To prevent this centrifugal force from causing one-sided wear of the cylinder facelprovide annular terminallcylinder recesseslS and in each of them I arrange a? rotatable stay-ring 9tlie in-` ternal diameter of which corresp onds'exactly with the diametery of theV cylinder 2f Since these stay-rings are set in motion and kept inv rotation by the pressure exerted upon their inner face by the ends of theblades?.

they do not perinitthe latter to exert upon the cylinder face a pressure which grows in the `proportion the depth of the crescentshapedjfworking chamber increases.

In order to assure a faultless operation of saidstay-rings by means of a good; bearing contact and al liberal,lubricatioinsaid stayrings are in accordance with Figures 1 and 3 kept in true'concentric relation with `the axis of the cylinder by the aid of three anti-Africtionbearings 10. These bearings are here represented as ballbearings, but roller bearingsvvould, of course, answer the same purpose. Each of these anti-friction bearings is mounted in one of the chamberlike` lateral extensionsll o f the annular terminal cylinder recesses 8. each of these bearings is snugly seated upon a. bolt linsertedthrough theinner open-ing 1a of the lateral extension 11 and after it has been pushedfthrough the inner bearing ring 12 it is centrally` supported by a bush-y ing-.15 seated inthe outer opening 16 of said extension 11. Between the inner bearing ring 12 ofthe anti-'frictionbearing 1 0 andr its outer contact ring. 17` anti-fricti0n balls 18- are arranged in the usual manner in. ballraces 19 so that, the Contact ringlY is bound to operate with a rolling motionnot only on its external face in `contact with the adjacent stay-ring 9, but also kon its internal face in contact with the anti-friction balls18.

The adjustment ofthe stay-rings 9 takes place when the engine has been brought up to its working-temperature after whichsad Contact rings `17 are brought to `press lightly against the peripheral surfaces of said stay;- rings. 'llhebolts 13 are then screwed up tightly topress theinner bearingring 12 against the shoulder` 20 ofthe extension 11` and thushol'd said ring stationary. The bushing' 15. isi` locked against rotation by means of the pins 21, whereas the `inner opening 14. ofthelextension 11 is closediby a Athreaded plug 22, cover, or the like7` so that the atmospheric` air is effectively -excluded from the terminal` cylinder recess 8.

Stay-rings thus arranged concentrically` Theinner bearing ringy 12 of' 4crease in the number of pointsvofvcontact.,

with the axis of the cylinder and sustained Without the least slip or playa on the contact ring 17 do notrequire to bear with their narrowI side faces air-tight against the cylin- Vder coversfandi-againstthe facial shoulders 23 of the cylinder 2. On the contrary, saidy stay-rings are made of a width to permit themto rotate in said cylinderl recesses 8 without lateral friction and" thus admit small quantities `of themotive luidqinto,` said annular cylinder recesses andV from thence into said extensions 11, so that for obvious reasons the mean pressure exerted. by the motive fluid in the ucresent-shaped` working chamber o 'willlalslo obtainciirsaid. annular 80 cylinder recesses andin the lateral extensions 1l. Since the .lubricant is carried byL the motive fluid andthe latter has access to the' annular terminal cylinder recesses `8 and their laterallextensions theulubricant is Vdeposited` therein and keeps thebearings and, the` stayrings lubricated. i To `prevent the formation of toohigh apressuregor antundueacculnulation ofmotive fluid insaid re-` cesses and their` lateral extensions,7 an.; ad- 90 justable safety valve 24 is provided for each terminal cylinder recess; 8: Any1 accumula tion of` oil or of al condensate in the lower-` most lateral extension 1K1: canbe'removedf by the arid of a pet-cock 25. In case this latter 95 extension is to be utilized? as anoil. reservoir., oil may be introducedintodt by. means of, the supply, pipe 26. i i i' The general @operation of*l my `improved rotary` engine does not differ conspicuously from that `of the known engines:f of this class, for which reason it is deemed` sulficientto state that the motive fluid-compressed air,- steam and thelikementersinto the workinga chambers 5 through the grate-,bottomed-.inletschamber 27, rotates the.` piston 4 ine the direction indicated bythe arrows inFig# ures 2 and 3,andgesca-pesvv through. the ex.,- haust ports 28 into the exhaust channel i. During ther rotation of the piston the.; ends 1w of the blades 7 are sustained by the revoluble stay-rings 9 within circle equal to the circular cylinder bore, by whiclrmeans the detrimental` action of the blades? upon.` the cylinder face is effectively neutralized While the blades 7 are driven outward dur ingthe first halfof the rotation ofthe piston under the influence of the centrifugali force, they are duringv the second half, of the rotation ofthe piston compulsorily;V re- 1,29 turned to their starting point byj-the pres sure exerted upon theouter edgesfof-said blades by the inner face of said. stay-rings.`

lt is evidentthatgeach stay-ring 9 maybe sustainedr and guided a: greater number ofwanti-friction bearings than three. This increase in the number of bearings is, of course, accompanied by arorresponding inand logically leadsl to` the modifications illustrated in Figures 4 to 8 inclusive. In Figures 4 and 5 each of the stay-rings 9 acts as, and constitutes the inner' bearing ring of an anti-friction bearing 30 of an inner diameter equal to that of the cylinder 2. In these bearings the anti-friction balls 3l sustain the stay-rings 9 with the same effect as the contact rings 17 do in Figures l to 3 inclusive. The external bearing rings 32 of these large antifriction bearings are rigidly held in place by the cylinder covers 3 which press these bearing rings against the facial cylinder shoulders 23 as indicated in Figure 4. The anti-friction balls3l are guided on the stay-rings 9 inA guide-channels E; and on the stationary bearing-rings 32 in guide-channels 33 and are kept therein at the proper distance one from another by means of the cages 34, as more particularly indicated in Figure 5.

Figures 6 and 7 difl'er from Figures 4 and 5 inasmuch as the anti-friction balls of each of these anti-friction bearings v35 are arranged in two rows instead of one row as shown in Figure 4. These two rows are formed here by the anti-friction balls'36 contained in a massive cellular ycage 37. This cage runs with but very little lateral play between the facial cylinder shoulder 23 and the adjacent cylinder cover 3 and with a similar radial play between the stay-ring 9 and the external bearing ring 38. The cage 37 is provided with two rows of radially arranged cells 39 for the reception of the antifriction balls 3G. The stay-rings 9 as well as the external bearing rings 38 of these anti-friction bearings are made without ball-races so that the balls 36 can move without let or hindrance on the smooth faces of these rings, and they may even execute movements parallel to the axis of the cylinder as far as this is made possible by the lateral play of the massive cage 3T between the cylinder cover 3 and the facial cylinder shoulder These bearings 35 offer in comparison with the bearings 30 of Figures 4 and 5 the advantage of a more convenient insertion into, and removal from, the annular terminal cylinder re cesses 8. It is advisable not to arrange the cells 39 in the cage 37 on the same transverse line but rather arrange them in a staggered or zigzag relation one to another as indicated in Figures 6 and 9.

l claim zl.- A rotary engine comprising a cylinder provided with a central portion having annular recesses adjacent its ends and having ports for the intake and exhaust of motive fluid, a rotary piston eecentrically mounted in said cylinder and having radial slots, blades radially movable in said slots and adapted to frictionally slide over the inner surface of said central portion, stay rings rotatably mounted in said recesses, the inner diameter of said stay rings being the same as theinner diameter' of said central portion, and anti-friction bearings between said rings and said cylinders, maintaining the rings in alignment with said central portion.

2. A .rotary engine comprising a cylinder provided with a central portion having annular recesses adjacent its ends and having ports for the intake and exhaust of motive` fluid, a rotary piston eccentrically mounted in said cylinder, blades radially movable in said piston and adapted to frictionally slide over the inner surface of said central portion, stay rings rotatably mounted in said recesses engaging the end vportions of said blades and adapted to restrain the outward movement thereof, and anti-friction bearings arranged between said rings and said cylinder, maintaining said rings in concentric relation to said cylinder.

3. A rotary engine comprising a cylinder provided with a central portion having annular recesses of greater' diameter than said cent-ral portion, and having ports for the intake and exhaust of motive fluid, a rotary piston eccentrically mounted in said cylinder, blades radially movable in said piston and adapted to frietionally slide over the inner surface of said central portion, stay rings rotatably mounted in said recesses engaging the end portions of said blades and adapted to restrain the outward movement thereof, and anti-friction bearing members in said recesses movable relative to the cylinder and to said rings, and maintaining said rings in concentric relation to said cylinder.

4. A rotary engine comprising a cylinder provided with a central portion having annular recesses at its ends, and having ports for the intake and exhaust of motive fluid, a rotary piston eccentr'ically mounted in said cylinder, blades radially movable in said piston and adapted to frictionally slide over the inner" surface of said central portion, stay rings mounted in said recesses, engaging the outer portions of said blades and restraining the outward movement thereof, covers closing the ends of said cylinder and limiting the axial movement of said stay rings in said recesses, said recesses each being provided with at least three lateral extensions, and Contact rings rotatably mounted in said extensions and engaging said stay rings to maintain them in concentric relation to said central portion.

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restraining the outward moven'lent'thereof, said contant Pings, said' reces'ses being' f said recesses each being provided with at gre'vtei Width than said sty rings so :is least three latenl extensions, cont-att rings toa'llow thediiifng'medunitofpenetiate t0 10 rotatably 4mounted in said extensions and seid zrit'iiiction belin'gm'eans. Y

5 engaging said stay rings t0 mantuinthem Signed by ine at Cologei Germany, this in concentric relation to said central pr- Qtlday of Jann"an-)11923.` Y tion, and anti-friction bearing means for ROBERT MEYER. 

